Star Trek: The Next Generation
"When the Bough Breaks"
Air date: 2/15/1988
Written by Hannah Louise Shearer
Directed by Kim Manners
Review by Jamahl Epsicokhan
Few episodes defy logic and common sense as egregiously and obviously as the awful "When the Bough Breaks." I must say, I feel like a real bastard reviewing season one of TNG (even knowing full well that the show will later get much better), where the episodes — sometimes barely watchable — are getting some of the lowest ratings in all my years of reviewing.
The mythical world of Aldea, hidden for centuries behind a cloaking shield, appears before the Enterprise, and its inhabitants invite the crew down in an attempt to negotiate a trade for some of the Enterprise's children. The Aldeans are desperate because they're infertile and want to preserve their species. When the Enterprise crew refuses, the Aldeans take the children with their superior-tech transporter, saying they have no choice, and subsequently force Picard into negotiations which, if you think about from the Aldeans' point of view, are pointless and moot.
The episode becomes an unworkable "parable" of the most tiresome sort. I've always hated it when an entire planet/society is reduced to five boring people and three boring sets. Here's a storyline so full of holes that we find ourselves asking question after question. Like, gee, do the Aldeans realistically expect to repopulate their world with only six kidnapped children? And, gee, are the Aldeans such slaves to their own laziness (and their magical "Custodian" provider) that their scientists, even with their superior technology, can't figure out in three decades what Dr. Crusher can figure out in three days? And, gee, the Aldeans aren't even curious enough to look behind the mysterious door to see what powers the "Custodian"? And, gee, don't you think the children, separated from their parents, would be a little more upset and a little less resigned? And, gee, wouldn't that kid Harry be harder to bribe than with the concept of wood sculpting, even if his real dad makes him take calculus? And, gee, isn't this a really lame episode, with simplistic answers the Aldeans are hopeless dolts not to figure out, meaning it's all that much more tedious for us to watch them learn?
Previous episode: Too Short a Season
Next episode: Home Soil
Like this site? Support it by buying Jammer a coffee.
75 comments on this post
Mon, Apr 23, 2012, 1:55pm (UTC -6)
Sun, Jun 10, 2012, 9:17pm (UTC -6)
laughing laughing laughing thanks jammer! :D
Tue, Jul 31, 2012, 6:07pm (UTC -6)
This is one of those episodes that you don't remember a damn thing after a while. It lets you so unaffected from what's going on that becomes pointless to watch.
Btw, I've said "boring" so many times now, but hey! It's TNG Season 1, so brace yourself.
Sat, Nov 3, 2012, 1:04am (UTC -6)
Tue, Nov 13, 2012, 9:05pm (UTC -6)
But not in a bad way.
They're (IMHO) refreshing, exploring venues of sci-fi not really touched on.
Calculus in the 7th grade? Cool!
Abducting kids as means to get around a sterility problem? This is remarkably adult sci-fi, and not a stupid sexcapade as so many earlier TNG episodes devolved into.
But the Aldeans would not make good parents. They're too hyperfocused on art and forgot how to build the tools they use, much less in discipline - the one aspect of raising children that is completely ignored, apart from Harry's father, and how did Riker know Harry's name? Anyway, that trope (forgetting how to build things) is not uncommon in sci-fi, but the application in this story is novel.
Even WESLEY WONDERBRAT isn't the cure-all. Okay, the children do start to get upset toward the end, at least the girl who played the music. Wes did seem to have to tell them all not to comply, and is having difficulty convincing them as to why...
But a cloaked planet -- cool idea, but surely a starship traveling at warp or impulse might go *SMACK* into it, since it's only rendered invisible -- it's still there, and ready to be the proverbial car that the starship (or, in this case, the proverbial deer) is waiting to greet... without the headlights.
3.25 of 4 stars from me, despite my nitpicks.
Tue, Nov 20, 2012, 9:39am (UTC -6)
I agree that the Aldeans negotiating with the Enterprise at all was kind of a silly plot point, and only taking 6 kids was essentially meaningless, but in the annals of meaningless Star Trek plot points, this is certainly not even in the top 10.
I think this was a well done episode, it moved well, and all the players had believable motivations, which is all I ask out of space-drama. I say this is a highlight of season 1.
Thu, Dec 20, 2012, 7:55am (UTC -6)
My favorite line in all of Star Trek is in this episode: Things are only impossible until they're not.
Tue, Jan 8, 2013, 6:49pm (UTC -6)
Stumbling across the hitherto mythical world of Aldea, and the Aldeans want something the Enterprise will be extremely reluctant to give up.
Hoary, predictable and simplistic, I erred in my review of 'Too Short a Season' - this is, for me the low point of Season 1- thinking ahead to the remainder of the season, I can't quite think of anything this poor. The plot makes Wesley into the 'Mary Sue' , having the brilliant idea of 'maintaining the computer', and whilst I love Jerry Hardin as 'Deep Throat' in the X Files, here he fares badly, coming across as absurd in the role of potential 'villain'. The scenes following the children's abduction are pour rire, as the parents sit around apparently barely bothered that their kids have been abducted. No - Sorry, for me this is a definite turkey - Half a Star from me - though fortunately at least two of the next three episodes see the series turn in the right direction.
Sun, Mar 24, 2013, 5:30am (UTC -6)
My favourite part of this episode is when they use the big suspense/action score and have an *act break* for the passive resistance scene. And the ironic thing is that a couple of kids half-heartedly not eating genuinely *is* the most exciting thing in this episode.
So, which of the girls do the Aldeans figure Wesley is eventually going to breed with?
I appreciate that this episode does have its defenders -- I am glad to hear that others enjoyed it more than I did. But seriously, this was *painful* to get through for me in a way I really hadn't prepared myself for. I can't even sift through my mind enough to articulate how badly it played.
1/2 star.
Thu, Nov 7, 2013, 12:33pm (UTC -6)
Picard : Understand that you are forgiven, but that this is far from forgotten. The time may come that you regain the knowledge of your ancestors, and perhaps even perfect your cloak against harming you. But take this as a given : However well hidden you once more become, Aldea will be watched, and a repeat of this loathsome tactic will not go well for you. Read that however you see fit.
No vengeance. Just some blatantly stated displeasure, if only for the 'angry-at-you-for-not-giving-up-the-kids-to-start-with' spoiled brat attitude. I think a sad relic for TNG of S1 was this idea that you can never ever take jerks to task, even verbally.
Wed, Mar 5, 2014, 9:15pm (UTC -6)
Sat, Jun 7, 2014, 8:41pm (UTC -6)
This is my only problem with this episode. Otherwise, it's just as believable as the other crazy plots from season 1.
Sat, Aug 9, 2014, 9:42pm (UTC -6)
Actually the Aldeans' motivation for negotiating is established, if only just barely. When the spokesman guy is first talking to Riker, he explains that the Aldean economy is based on mutual exchange; whenever something is received, something else must be given. So they owe the Enterprise fair compensation for the children. Or something.
But yeah, this episode is terrible. The effects and costuming have not aged well. The child actors' performances are totally unconvincing. The reaction of the parents is ludicrous in both scripting and performance; from their reactions you'd think they were being told that their insurance rates were going up, not that their children were being abducted permanently. Was there any point to the subplot about the Enterprise being tossed away, other than padding out the episode? The planet-wide cloak is an interesting idea, but is also a can of worms. If Starfleet has access to that technology, why didn't they use it to forestall the Borg and Dominion invasions? Sloppy writing.
Fri, Jan 16, 2015, 9:53am (UTC -6)
Tue, Jan 27, 2015, 1:57am (UTC -6)
One line that stood out for me was Aldea leader and Riker in the negotiation
Riker says "We sympathize with your situation. But what you ask is not possible."
Aldean Leader says "And that your final answer" and Riker says "Its our only answer"
Picard of course knows that is not true and continues the negotiation stalling for time.
The computer has taken over the planet and what they think is their savior (computer tech) is killing them. Kinda similar to our planet? Hmmm...
Tue, Jan 27, 2015, 6:56am (UTC -6)
I do like the part where Aldeans encourage kids to follow their feelings (encourage them to do what they love to do such as art & music) instead of thinking (calculus).
PS. The angelic little girl's face reminds me of a like a younger Miranda Kerr.
Tue, Jan 27, 2015, 10:05am (UTC -6)
"I agree with Jammer that the plot is illogical when Dr. Crusher can find cure in a few days and advanced race cannot figure that out in eons."
This is a common thing in Star Trek which I hate. It's understandable that the Enterprise will often encounter civilizations that have made certain scientific discoveries (yet), just like they often meet near-omnipotent beings. But the way the crew keeps coming up with quick solutions to problems which these other civilizations have been laboring on for ages is just too implausible. I get that they do it because the problem has to be solved in the course of a 45 minute episode, but they could at least make the crew work a little bit more to get there.
Tue, Jan 27, 2015, 10:06am (UTC -6)
Wed, Jul 22, 2015, 5:05pm (UTC -6)
Tue, Aug 18, 2015, 3:21pm (UTC -6)
This is inoffensive enough, but as others have identified the plot holes are manifest and the character motivations muted and underplayed. It just doesn't land any emotional hits.
And by the end it turns into a clunking allegory of the destruction of the ozone layer, throwing us out of whatever story there was and into a "we thought technology was the answer - what fools we were" conclusion that was tired before it was rolled out as a thousand other sci-fi standbys. 1.5 stars.
Tue, Aug 18, 2015, 6:37pm (UTC -6)
Bear in mind, that level of TNG was all we had at the time. Plus, we were learning how to watch it while the writers were learning how to make it. So tune in we did, and we liked it!
Sun, Sep 13, 2015, 2:07pm (UTC -6)
Tue, Dec 8, 2015, 11:19am (UTC -6)
This episode is memorable for all the wrong reasons. Just wretched.
Tue, Jan 26, 2016, 6:27pm (UTC -6)
Fri, Feb 12, 2016, 10:34pm (UTC -6)
Gene, we all love ya, but if you stayed in 100% control of TNG it would have died by the end of S3 and we would have had no DS9, Voyageur or movies beyond maybe a Star Trek 7 wishing Kirk and Co farewell.
Wed, Nov 16, 2016, 3:22pm (UTC -6)
Most of the characters in that story have no concept of how the planetary machine actually works either.
I cannot say I never disagree with Jammer as I found this story more interesting than the last one with the Binars but the shmalz was overdone and the wrap up pretty unconvincing.
Thu, Nov 24, 2016, 10:14am (UTC -6)
I mean, this kind of story would have hard time not ending up boring under any circumstances, but dear god is this story the personification of beige. This is certainly not TNG at it's stupidest, silliest or even dullest but it is at its blandest. Even the freaking clothing is blaaand.
The whole "we are perfect in the future" was particularly annoying here. Little kids learning calculus, Crusher calming down a mother for acting somewhat concerned over her kid, even the kids on the planet act like they are just kinda meh about everything.
Fri, Jan 20, 2017, 3:16pm (UTC -6)
I actually like this ep just fine when I first saw it - pleasant, somewhat suspenseful - but I still enjoyed the review.
I agree with Nick P though: the culture made perfect sense as a society that had let their brains/curiosity go to sleep for generations. They didn't have scientists. Even their artists seemed to rely on magic tools (little Harry - scuktping by waving an odd thing over a solid substance!! But is it still sculpting when it takes no hand-skill Hines by decades of practice??)
Would have made more sense if all X dozen Wnterprise kids had been taken, but that actually never bothered me until I read this review.
Tue, Jan 31, 2017, 5:29pm (UTC -6)
Sun, May 7, 2017, 6:46pm (UTC -6)
When faced with the problem given the planet, why did neither the inhabitants nor the Enterprise crew make the suggestion that perhaps they could adopt orphans in order to give them a good home? Or, perhaps, announce that they would take in settlers to their planet in return for the children of the settlers being taught to carry on their society? Certainly there are people out there looking for a home (what happened to the colony that they had to move during "Justice?")
I didn't have a problem with the episode or it's execution, but the fact that none of them suggested a less confrontational option was kind of silly.
Sun, May 21, 2017, 8:15pm (UTC -6)
Mon, Jul 24, 2017, 2:35am (UTC -6)
Wed, Nov 22, 2017, 12:54am (UTC -6)
I enjoyedthis one. Liked myth of Aldea
Felt for aldeans
Genuine helplessness for the crew with Aldeans upper hand with shields and cloak
Neat idea in 24th century younger kids already studying calculus. Really appealed to me
Just an sllsround entertaining hour
Mon, Dec 11, 2017, 4:41am (UTC -6)
Tue, Dec 12, 2017, 4:23pm (UTC -6)
Tue, Dec 19, 2017, 9:50pm (UTC -6)
I really don't like the opening and the utterly stupid dialogue about the "legend of Aldea." I hate the way Riker even says the word, and after he waxes on and on about the legend, Tasha's reply is incredible: "What a wonderful fairy tale."
HONEY, you have already experienced the following on your short tour of duty:
-- An omnipotent being who froze you at a 21st century trial and who later put in you a "penalty box" when you balked at fighting "vicious animal things."
-- You witnessed a jellyfish-like creature rise from a planet and fly off into space (and turn its body into its own spaceship)
-- You screwed an android after getting a weird space disease.
-- You were on the Enterprise when Wesley's boyfriend, "The Travelah," sent your ship not only to another galaxy but also to a place where thought becomes reality.
-- You beamed down to a planet where some portal type dude from 500,000 years ago didn't realize it was dead but still had the power to immobilize your starship.
-- You had recreational sex with people who worship some kind of machine-being that's there and not there and who want to employ capital punishment for falling into flower beds.
-- You saw your captain beam out into a possessive energy cloud to join it for good-times exploration (or were you too busy not keeping two diplomatic delegations apart?).
And this is a "wonderful fairy tale" that's beyond possibility in your world? This is what you scoff at and can't possible believe? PLEASE. Except for the weird cat fight, the wedding party bickering and meeting up with some gals more dominant that yourself, Aldea is the most normal mission you've been on!
What horrible writing. Poor Denise Crosby. OK -- got that off my chest.
In concept, I'm down with the story: Hidden planet, needs children, takes them. The execution was typical Season 1 clunky in many places, but there were a few positives:
-- Wesley, for once, is tolerable and believable in his efforts as the leader of the kids (who were bad little actors for the most part).
-- I like the actual kidnapping sequence of the Aldeans sending the landing party back and immediately transporting away the kids (though I think they could have milked the shock factor of that better)
-- The scene at the end when they walk into the huge cavern area storing the Provider computer was really good! Nice work for 1980s FX.
I think if the Season 3 team had done this show, it could have been a good one.
P.S.: Brenda Strong is in it, who later was the voice of the dead woman on "Desperate Housewives."
Sat, Feb 10, 2018, 4:57pm (UTC -6)
I've read a lot of the complaints above and, while I can agree with their logic, you have to address the reality that this is a television show. You can't afford dozens of child actors for crowd scenes that would advance the story not one iota. The same goes for the hordes of Aldeans we never saw. Maybe a couple of background extras walking around would have been nice to make Aldea seem like a populated world, but they weren't germane to the plot.
And when it comes to the complaints about the lack of hysteria among the ship's parents, you forget this is when the show was under the thumb of Gene Roddenberry and his ideas about an "enlightened" humanity where negative emotion and conflict don't exist. There were also mostly Starfleet officers, who would have faith that their commanding officer would work his magic and save the day.
Oh, and to the detractor who wanted to know how Riker knew Harry's name. Riker was the one who would mostly deal with the crew and civilian complement and it just makes sense he's familiar with them. Case in point, he also knew the names of Mathews and Pola, the two scamps who left the Chinese finger puzzle in the observation lounge in "The Last Outpost". Must be that advanced 24th Century memory they all have...
Sat, Feb 10, 2018, 5:04pm (UTC -6)
But yes, the expositing between Riker and Yar was a little overwrought.
Fri, May 18, 2018, 11:35pm (UTC -6)
Not as bad as 'Code of Honor', but close.
It bothers me how the kids have next to no emotion when they are kidnapped.
Sat, May 19, 2018, 6:04pm (UTC -6)
Be warned.
Tue, May 29, 2018, 1:14pm (UTC -6)
This highly advanced society with superior technology than the Enterprise doesn't even bother to figure out what's wrong with them and so they think they can just kidnap children and, worse comes to worst, (presumably) defend themselves. No morals or anything. And of course, Crusher figures out what's wrong with them in a few days.
And the Aldeans have this supposed super computer -- the "Custodian" which is easily disarmed by Riker/Data (lower the planet's shields/cloak). It didn't even try to pull a Landru or disco cube ("That Which Survives") on the landing party.
I apologize for comparing this episode to "The Inner Light" but there was one thing that makes me say this -- this Aldean society wants to preserve itself, wants to preserve its art forms. It does this by kidnapping children whereas Picard's mind was basically kidnapped in the TNG classic. So there is an aspect of the society's preservation at stake here.
Interesting that the Custodian was build by the "Progenitors" -- from "The Chase" so that could explain how the Aldeans had the cloaking device for millennia. Some of these things are mind-boggling relative to the usual Trek. But I didn't like having these idiotic Aldeans in possession of such valuable knowledge.
And what of that room where the power source lies -- did they take the "God" from "Justice" and stick it in there for this episode? That's what it looked like to me.
Anyhow, the rescue operation is too standard, predictable (beam through fluctuation in the shield, etc.) The kids' passive resistance isn't tested -- the episode is just too lame, too docile. I don't think even 1 kid shed a tear at not being with their parents for a few days.
Barely 1.5 stars for "When the Bough Breaks" -- it's as if this episode is meant to be G-rated although there are serious issues at play -- but they're dulled down. The balance was off, urgency lacked, and the Aldean society seemed like it wanted to just focus on arts etc. and leave technology to the Custodian, except when threatened. The little girl fooling around with Picard couldn't even help this episode. Plenty of filler material.
Sat, Jun 9, 2018, 6:19am (UTC -6)
Tue, Jul 17, 2018, 5:39pm (UTC -6)
Thu, Sep 13, 2018, 8:22pm (UTC -6)
What really irritates me, aside from the absurdity that six or seven kids can repopulate a planet, is that the plot requires the Aldeans to be deliberately obtuse. Benjamin S mentioned adoption, colonization, and any number of other solutions that would be more palatable. This could've been solved in five minutes but the plot requires them to be morons for it to work.
Wed, Oct 3, 2018, 8:01pm (UTC -6)
Wed, Feb 13, 2019, 10:53am (UTC -6)
Bring out ship after ship of human or at least federation-affiliated children to be raised by the Aldeans and learn their ways and how to operate everything.
Then, twenty years later, after the last Aldean dies off, the Federation has complete control over Aldea.
It was literally an invitation to take it all and Picard blew it.
Sun, Feb 24, 2019, 11:03am (UTC -6)
Sun, Feb 24, 2019, 5:38pm (UTC -6)
Actually Wesley was good in this one. His part in the plot was fitting t to his age.
7/10
Fri, Mar 8, 2019, 4:46pm (UTC -6)
Picard and the crew are adamant that "no human parent will give up its offspring", but surely in a galaxy spanning organization like the Federation, there are thousands of orphans, or parents with children, who if asked, would give their consent to being raised on this planet, or live on this planet alongside their dispossessed kids.
Picard, in never bringing this option up, escalates the situation.
Sun, Jul 28, 2019, 10:16pm (UTC -6)
I liked the way the Aldeans tried to identify the true talents of each child. And I thought Wesley was well used in the ep, providing a link between the planet and the ship, the younger children and the adults.
The premise was silly and didn't work all that well, but plot holes and such are par for the course. I didn't find this ep anymore guilty of plot hole issues than your standard ST fare.
I felt sorry for the sterile Aldeans, and I thought their joy and quick attachment to the children was touching.
The alien-ness of the casual way they brought up "buying" the children was interesting, too.
Sorta TOS like with the preachy, "teaching these aliens a lesson" ending, but a decent ep overall.
Sat, Sep 21, 2019, 11:34pm (UTC -6)
Sun, Dec 1, 2019, 6:02am (UTC -6)
Wed, Mar 4, 2020, 11:23am (UTC -6)
The scene where they first talk to the "guardian" is eerily familiar to modern viewers, what with our obsession with talking to our phones and computers now. A nice bit of foreshadowing there.
The overall concept is fascinating as well. The particular plot points don't really make sense, but if you just accept that, you can still enjoy the performances. Especially scenes where the main cast adopt mannerisms that they later adjusted or smoothed out, sometimes even acting "out of character" compared to their later performances.
The supporting actress who gives them the tour of the facility early on, is horribly bad. Even the TNG cast, when standing listening to her, can be seen almost snickering, or "smiling and nodding"...a group of superior actors watching someone reading lines like they just joined their middle school play. That was hard to watch.
This is a nice piece of historical TNG and its entertaining on re-watch, despite the plot holes.
Mon, Jun 1, 2020, 12:57pm (UTC -6)
Mon, Jul 6, 2020, 10:45am (UTC -6)
Tue, Aug 4, 2020, 11:25pm (UTC -6)
This one probably has Maurice Hurley all over it.
Fri, Sep 4, 2020, 7:26pm (UTC -6)
Some of the planets people were in their 70's, while others were in their 30's and 40's. How were the younger ones born? And if the issue was radiation from the Sun, but they all seemed to stay inside because of their sensitivity to light, how were they still infertile?
At least the episode, Up the Long Ladder, was far more plausible with their dilemma of not being able to have children. Send in the Clones!!!
Mon, Oct 26, 2020, 4:48pm (UTC -6)
Tue, Nov 3, 2020, 1:59pm (UTC -6)
"You have committed an act of utter barbarity!"
Also it's funny how much of a throwback the first season felt. The custodian voice reminded of a Doohan voice from TOS like Sargon or the computer on Yonada. I also detected a hint of TOS music.
Thu, Nov 26, 2020, 2:17pm (UTC -6)
1. More gravitas to the ending. It concludes with Aldea vanishing for the final time... and passing into legend.
2. More true to Radue's character. Instead of going all nicey nice and humble at the end, he can stay in character, demand that the Enterprise leave and refuse to share the Aldeans' knowledge.
3. Despite a presumed alliance with Aldea, the Federation never gains planetary shields, super-powerful repulsor beams, or the ability to assess a person's inherent gifts by scanning them. Having Aldea reject their aid and terminate contact would erase this inconsistency.
4. Picard doesn't end the episode with a Tribble stuck to his shirt.
Sun, Feb 21, 2021, 5:41pm (UTC -6)
The one complaint I have that I don't think I've seen anyone else have, though, is the ludicrous premise of a society where someone can take something they want from someone else and then just arrange compensation.
No society even remotely similar to human civilization here on earth could progress with that as a fundamental law. The Aldeans would not have made it out of the stone age if Grok preferred Ung's cave and could just go squat in the cave while Ung was out picking berries. Like your neighbor's wife? Go grab her and drag her back to your hide tent. This whole concept is ridiculous because it would just lead to ceaseless violence and instability in the society.
It's so mindnumblingly bad I am angry and my entire day is ruined.
Fri, Feb 26, 2021, 6:18pm (UTC -6)
Thu, May 6, 2021, 9:18am (UTC -6)
Mon, Jun 14, 2021, 2:34am (UTC -6)
Consistent though, in developing the notion that Picard is not comfortable around children, I’ll give it that.
I would give this almost 2 stars for potential - it could have been a 3 star episode if done right.
Mon, Jun 14, 2021, 2:49am (UTC -6)
The cradle will fall
Down will come baby
Cradle and all “
Fri, Sep 17, 2021, 4:16pm (UTC -6)
It's Sue Ellen Mischke, the bra-less wonder! Heiress of the Oh! Henry candy bar fortune!
Fri, Sep 17, 2021, 4:27pm (UTC -6)
Mon, Sep 20, 2021, 11:20pm (UTC -6)
I liked Brenda Strong in that....she was a great captain (wonder if she tried out for the Janeway part?). Managed to save her ship during the debacle at Klendathu when she utters the terrific line "Somebody made a big G-- d-mned mistake." Unfortunately, the writers gave her a painful sendoff at Planet P , but at least she got Carmen out safe.
Thu, Apr 7, 2022, 1:18pm (UTC -6)
Tue, Apr 19, 2022, 8:59pm (UTC -6)
On my most recent viewing, I especially liked the moment when Radue tells PIcard, "You have to deal with this (the children's resistance). I'm not very good with children."
Picard's facial expression first says, "Like you think I am?????" but he catches himself and puts on an air of confidence. "Oh, a hunger strike. Yes, yes, I know just how to handle that."
Wed, Jun 1, 2022, 12:58pm (UTC -6)
5. It's just stupid that Picard was handed the Ultimate Diplomatic Bargaining Chip... and doesn't even try to use it. All he really had to do was tell Radue: "Return the kids you took, and we'll help you pop out an unlimited supply of your own. No homesickness, and no uncooperative behavior until they turn into teenagers and it's normal. And if we do this for you and say pretty please, can we look at the specs on that repulsor beam?"
Simple solution, ideal for the Aldeans because their own kids would have their DNA and also be perfect blank slates. And no need to risk scattering bits of Riker and Data across half the galaxy by trying to beam them through the shield.
And once again, Picard doesn't have to deal with a stuffed tribble stuck to his uniform. He still has to deal with the awkward "Alexandra wants pickie uppies" moment, though. We're not TOTALLY letting you off, Jean-Luc.
Mon, Dec 26, 2022, 5:00am (UTC -6)
This episode is terrible. Another planet that has just 5 inhabitants who are all wooden characters.
Wed, Feb 15, 2023, 10:23pm (UTC -6)
Thu, Mar 2, 2023, 12:06am (UTC -6)
To me, Babylon 5 was far better than TNG in almost any dimension you could measure. But B5 wasn't on the air yet, and Star Trek has always been lovable in a way most other SF shows aren't.
Thu, May 4, 2023, 8:53pm (UTC -6)
They've stole our kids, and that is horrific. But the episode doesn't make it easy: because what about their stoling our kids but giving them a more fitting life than we were giving? How well can we justify Aldean's wrong doing in terms of what is actually best for the kids, instead of merely our "property" rights towards our children? This is no easy question.
Their trade negotiations was well set. They have the children, but they're a culture who believes in "taking and giving", so they offer something in return. And, again, the episode doesn't make it easy: they actually have something good to give in return. Isn't there ANYTHING worth giving those kids to the Aldeans for? The easy answer is "no", of course, BUT how firmly can the Enteprise crew sustain that? I mean, Dr. Crusher can say "our children are not for sale at any price", but they already boarded their children on a risky mission trough space on a starship! You risk your children's life to explore the universe but can't let they be under other's (better) tutelage in return of obtaining the knowledge that you already risked them for?
In the end, the supposedly advanced and enlightened human society boarding the Enterprise doesn't stand on anything more then primitive instincts — what is nice to see. And one little extra point: in TOS we approach the galaxy with caution; in TNG they interact with a certain optimism and naivety, so I liked a lot they doing that and just gotting flat out stolen haha.
In the end, the problem was more logistics than drama, of course. It was clear, from the begining, that a first more obvious solution would be 1- Assessing if the Federation can actually solve the Aldean's infertility problem or 2- Meeting then with a race who accepts giving away their children, i.e., who doesn't have our "unusual attachment to their offspring" as Deanna says (well writen dialog here). Yes, that was clear. But even point 1 was decently addressed: the Aldeans became blind-faithed in a science they don't know anymore how works and where it's limits are. If that sounds "ludicrous" to you, just take a look at our world today, because we surely are, if not already in, at least in the edge of accepting faithfully, for good and for bad, justifiable and sometimes not, scientists's word on things that we don't understand ourselfes.
And even Wesley wasn't a pain in the ass on this episode.
So, it's a solid 3 and a half stars for me.
Submit a comment
◄ Season Index